Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
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jakeisjake
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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by jakeisjake » Fri Jan 22, 2021 7:04 am

HarlowTheFish wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:26 am
jakeisjake wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 4:00 am
*arrived at the "local" distribution center this morning at 6am...will it get on today's truck????* :w00t:
Is it USPS? I had a body get stuck from December 27th to January 15th with no movement or updates. It just suddenly had an "attempted delivery" notice and all the updates showed up. Shipping is really stuck right now.
UPS. The local distribution center is about an hour away. The estimated delivery is still today...but it doesn't say "out for delivery" like it usually does.

edit: on the truck and will be delivered this afternoon!
If I was a byrd, I'd be mighty sore every time they shut the door and I don't think I'd sing...

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jakeisjake
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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by jakeisjake » Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:13 pm

Initial thoughts:

Underwhelmed. Mostly due to high action. I find the neck pretty large, too.

I'll wait for a bit, but... :unsure:

Crazy...I really wanted a piece of (new) history.
If I was a byrd, I'd be mighty sore every time they shut the door and I don't think I'd sing...

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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by Soniqfreq » Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:16 pm

jakeisjake wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:13 pm
Initial thoughts:

Underwhelmed. Mostly due to high action. I find the neck pretty large, too.

I'll wait for a bit, but... :unsure:

Crazy...I really wanted a piece of (new) history.
The neck is chunky but a proper setup will make it more manageable. They commonly come poorly setup from the factory and need some adjustments to get it playable. I posted some of the details of my setup in this thread and the action is nice and low. I recommend taking relief and action measurements and then adjusting accordingly. Put on fresh strings too. With a 12-string everything takes more time but it will be worth it.

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bessieboporbach
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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by bessieboporbach » Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:56 am

jakeisjake wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:13 pm
Initial thoughts:

Underwhelmed. Mostly due to high action. I find the neck pretty large, too.

I'll wait for a bit, but... :unsure:

Crazy...I really wanted a piece of (new) history.
It does have a huge neck. I like it, but it feels like a bass neck.

The action is easily fixed. Just make sure you have a radius gauge handy.

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SignoftheDragon
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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by SignoftheDragon » Sun Jan 24, 2021 3:00 pm

The neck on these is a bit chunkier than some, but I haven't found it offensive or uncomfortable- definitely get it set up to your action preferences before making any hasty decision.

If it is still not to your taste- Some thinner-necked twelve-strings out there:
1) Charvel Surfcaster 12 has the thinnest neck I've played on a 12- still my personal favorite.
2) Most Danelectros have a slimmer neck profile. (Best choice for the budget-minded - usually under $500)
3) Older Ibanez shreddy 12s necks are almost as thin as the Charvels.

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jakeisjake
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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by jakeisjake » Sun Jan 24, 2021 5:40 pm

SignoftheDragon wrote:
Sun Jan 24, 2021 3:00 pm
The neck on these is a bit chunkier than some, but I haven't found it offensive or uncomfortable- definitely get it set up to your action preferences before making any hasty decision.

If it is still not to your taste- Some thinner-necked twelve-strings out there:
1) Charvel Surfcaster 12 has the thinnest neck I've played on a 12- still my personal favorite.
2) Most Danelectros have a slimmer neck profile. (Best choice for the budget-minded - usually under $500)
3) Older Ibanez shreddy 12s necks are almost as thin as the Charvels.
I have a Danelectro-12. It is such a great guitar. I will be patient....I figure it is a guitar that will probably always sell for a reasonable price; so no rush.
If I was a byrd, I'd be mighty sore every time they shut the door and I don't think I'd sing...

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jakeisjake
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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by jakeisjake » Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:31 am

I'm sure some of you have done the vintage style switch mod...does anyone have a demo of it?
If I was a byrd, I'd be mighty sore every time they shut the door and I don't think I'd sing...

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Nudger
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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by Nudger » Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:10 pm

Do you need a wiring diagram?

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jakeisjake
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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by jakeisjake » Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:25 pm

Nudger wrote:
Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:10 pm
Do you need a wiring diagram?
yes, please.

But I would also love to hear someone's who has already done the mod.

Thanks
If I was a byrd, I'd be mighty sore every time they shut the door and I don't think I'd sing...

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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by Nudger » Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:57 pm

Done it bunches of times.

The diagrams I use give switching in a different order to the original XII.

N
NB Parallel
NB Parallel "out of phase"
B

Or

N
NB Parallel
NB Series
B

There you go
Image
Image
This will only work with the Blue/White Alpha 3 pole 3 way Switch.
The numbering is different on other switches.

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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by Nudger » Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:59 pm

whoops

3 pole 4 way switch...

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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by jakeisjake » Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:16 am

thanks!
If I was a byrd, I'd be mighty sore every time they shut the door and I don't think I'd sing...

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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by Singlebladepickup » Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:00 am

Is there a set of flatwounds someone can recommend for one of these?

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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by jakeisjake » Sun Jan 31, 2021 9:40 am

I played it through my other amp (Fender Blues, Jr.)...wow! It sounds really good. I'll be getting a set up next week...I'm sure it will be a keeper.
If I was a byrd, I'd be mighty sore every time they shut the door and I don't think I'd sing...

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Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String

Post by natthu » Sun Jan 31, 2021 10:20 am

Singlebladepickup wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:00 am
Is there a set of flatwounds someone can recommend for one of these?
I couldn't find a proper set, but it's not that hard to throw together a mixed set that works... I think I used a 6 string flat set, the non wound drones from an XII set and then it wasn't too hard to find something that works for the other string (or even just leave that one as a round wound as it's pretty thin anyway).

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